Creatine,
a compound found in meat, can bulk up your brain power, claims
an Australian study.

The study says taking creatine
as a dietary supplement boosts your working memory and general
intelligence. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of Proceedings
B, a journal published by the Royal Society.

The Australian researchers monitored
the effect of 5 grams per day of creatine supplement given to
45 young adult vegetarians.

"The level of creatine supplementation
chosen was 5g per day as this is a level that has previously been
shown to increase brain creatine levels. This level is comparable
to that taken to boost sports fitness," lead researcher Dr.
Caroline Rae says in a news release.

"Vegetarians or vegans were
chosen for the study as carnivores and omnivores obtain a variable
level of creatine depending on the amount and type of meat they
eat - although to reach the level of supplementation in this experiment
would involve eating 2 kilograms of meat a day," Rae says.

The study subjects were divided
into two groups. One group received the creatine supplement while
the other group received a placebo for six weeks. That was followed
by six weeks of no intake of placebo or creatine by either group.
In the final 6 weeks, the control and placebo group were swapped.

The subjects' memory and intelligence
were tested at the start of the trial, the end of the first six-week
period, and the start and end of the final six-week period.

"The results were clear with
both our experimental groups and in both test scenarios: creatine
supplementation gave a significant measurable boost to brain power,"
Rae says.

"These findings underline
a dynamic and significant role of brain energy capacity in influencing
brain performance. Increasing the energy available for computation
increases the power of the brain and this is reflected directly
in improved general ability," Rae says.